What Is Veganism?
Veganism is a way of living that seeks to avoid animal exploitation as much as possible and practicable.
For many people, veganism starts with food. Vegans do not eat meat, dairy, eggs, fish, or other animal products. But veganism is bigger than a diet. It is a commitment to building a world where animals are no longer used for food, clothing, entertainment, testing, or profit when better choices are available.
At VeganSTL, powered by Project Animal Freedom, we help people in St. Louis discover vegan food, join the vegan community, and take action for animals.
Our goal is bold: a fully vegan Midwest by 2056.
Veganism Starts With Animals
Veganism matters because animals matter.
Cows, pigs, chickens, fishes, turkeys, and other animals are not objects. They are living, feeling individuals. They can suffer. They can experience fear and comfort. They can form bonds. They want to live.
Most people already believe animals should not suffer unnecessarily.
Veganism puts that belief into action.
When we choose vegan food, clothing, products, and entertainment, we reduce support for industries that confine, exploit, and kill animals. We also help create demand for better alternatives.
Every vegan choice helps build a world where animals are seen as someone, not something.
Veganism and Animal Rights
Animal rights is the belief that animals deserve moral consideration for their own sake.
Veganism is one way we live out that belief.
Animal rights gives us the principle: animals should not be exploited.
Veganism gives us the practice: stop supporting animal exploitation when we can.
That is why veganism is central to Project Animal Freedom’s mission. We are not just promoting plant-based food. We are building a movement for animal freedom.
A vegan St. Louis means more than more vegan menu options. It means a city where compassion is easier, animal advocacy is stronger, vegan businesses are more visible, and more people are working together to end animal exploitation.
Veganism Is Not About Perfection
Veganism is not about being perfect.
It is about doing the best we can to avoid harming animals when we have a choice.
Some people go vegan overnight. Others start with one meal, one restaurant, one grocery swap, one event, or one month of Veganuary.
Every step matters.
If you are curious, you belong here.
If you are just starting, you belong here.
If you have been vegan for years and want to help build the movement, you belong here too.
VeganSTL exists to make veganism easier, more welcoming, and more connected in the St. Louis region.
Why Veganism Matters in St. Louis
St. Louis has the potential to become one of the strongest vegan cities in the Midwest.
We already have vegan restaurants, vegan-friendly businesses, community events, markets, pop-ups, advocates, organizers, and thousands of people who care about animals.
But people still need a clear place to start.
That is why VeganSTL exists.
VeganSTL is the local hub for vegan food, events, community, and animal advocacy in St. Louis. We help people find vegan restaurants, attend events, meet other vegans, volunteer for animals, and discover how their everyday choices can make a difference.
Whether you are looking for your first vegan meal or your next way to help animals, VeganSTL is here to help.
How Project Animal Freedom Builds the Vegan Movement
Project Animal Freedom is working to build a fully vegan Midwest by 2056 through a strategic, chapter-based movement.
VeganSTL brings that mission to life in the St. Louis region.
We advance veganism through:
STL Vegan Market and other vegan community events
Veganuary and beginner-friendly vegan challenges
Volunteer meetings and activism trainings
Vegan education and digital outreach
Partnerships with vegan businesses and community leaders
Chapter-building across the Midwest
A growing community of people working for animal freedom
Our work makes veganism easier to try, easier to sustain, and easier to share.
Our Approach: Make Veganism Visible, Social, and Actionable
Veganism grows when people can see it, try it, enjoy it, and share it.
That is why our work is not limited to education. We build the spaces and systems that help veganism become part of everyday life in St. Louis.
We create events where people can experience vegan food in a joyful, welcoming setting.
We create guides that make vegan options easier to find.
We create volunteer opportunities that turn compassion into action.
We create campaigns that help more people understand animals as individuals.
We create community so people do not have to make this change alone.
Veganism becomes stronger when it becomes visible.
And in St. Louis, VeganSTL is working to make veganism impossible to ignore.
Why Go Vegan?
People go vegan for many reasons: animals, the environment, health, justice, spirituality, community, or personal values.
For Project Animal Freedom, the foundation is animal rights.
We believe animals deserve to live safe, happy, and free from the tyranny of factory farms, slaughterhouses, and other animal-abusing institutions. Veganism is one of the clearest ways we can help make that future real.
When more people go vegan, the culture changes.
Vegan restaurants grow.
Vegan events become stronger.
Vegan options become more common.
Animal advocacy becomes more visible.
More people begin to see animals differently.
That is how movements grow.
One meal.
One person.
One event.
One community at a time.
How to Start Going Vegan in St. Louis
You do not have to figure it out alone.
Here are a few simple ways to begin:
Explore our guide. Find vegan restaurants, vegan-friendly spots, and local plant-based options.
Come to a VeganSTL event. Join STL Vegan Market, a vegan social, a class, a dinner, or a volunteer meeting.
Try Veganuary. Take a beginner-friendly vegan challenge and discover how easy vegan living can become.
Start with simple swaps. Try plant-based milk, vegan burgers, dairy-free ice cream, tofu, tempeh, beans, lentils, and other easy staples.
Meet the community. Veganism is easier and happier when you are surrounded by people who share your values.
Volunteer for animals. Help Project Animal Freedom build the movement for animal freedom in St. Louis and across the Midwest.
Join the Vegan Movement in St. Louis
Veganism is more than a personal choice. It is a movement for a kinder world.
It is how we align our actions with our values.
It is how we stand up for animals.
It is how we build community.
It is how we create the future we want to live in.
If you care about animals, compassion, justice, or the future of St. Louis, we invite you to join us.
Explore vegan food. Attend an event. Volunteer. Donate. Share VeganSTL with a friend.
Together, we can build a fully vegan Midwest by 2056.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does vegan mean?
Vegan means avoiding animal products and animal exploitation as much as possible and practicable. In food, this means avoiding meat, dairy, eggs, fish, and other animal-derived ingredients.
Is veganism the same as plant-based?
Not exactly. Plant-based usually refers to food or diet. Veganism is broader. It includes food, clothing, entertainment, products, and the belief that animals should not be exploited.
Why do people go vegan?
People go vegan for many reasons, including animals, the environment, health, justice, and personal values. VeganSTL and Project Animal Freedom emphasize animal rights: the belief that animals deserve to live free from exploitation.
Is veganism hard in St. Louis?
It is easier than many people think. St. Louis has vegan restaurants, vegan-friendly restaurants, markets, events, grocery options, and a growing vegan community.
How can I go vegan in St. Louis?
Start with our guide, attend a VeganSTL event, try a vegan challenge, visit local vegan restaurants, and connect with the community.
How does veganism help animals?
Veganism reduces demand for industries that breed, confine, exploit, and kill animals. It also helps build a culture where animals are seen as individuals rather than products.
How does VeganSTL support veganism?
VeganSTL supports veganism by helping people find vegan food, attend events, join the community, volunteer, and take action for animals in the St. Louis region.
What is Project Animal Freedom?
Project Animal Freedom is a nonprofit organization working to build a fully vegan Midwest by 2056 through a strategic, chapter-based movement.